Tip Top Library: Frank Merriwell in the South Seas — page 33: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

FRANK MERRIWELL IN THE SOUTH SEAS. 31 est upon the lava bed, a long distance! head a moment, and then hurled her into below. They saw the scene, and under-|the raging fire. - stood it instantly. That moment's pause, when he poised “Merciful Heaven!’ gasped Gillette.| Maud for the throw, was Frank’s one “It?s Maud and he means to kill her!’ | desperate opportunity to save her. Frank said not a word. It was no time! As she left her father’s hands the lariat for considering the situation or shrink-; shot from Frank’s. ing from its horror. He leaped forward,; It was a cast for life! running with all his might up the steep; True asa rifle bullet the cord caught slope toward the crater. her around the waist, the noose held, and Gillette followed as best he could, but} Frank’s feet slid over the lava as her being older and heavier, he was soon out-' weight dragged him on. stripped by his youthful companion. | The maniac, true to his word that he Powerful though the madman was, the!and his daughter would “‘go together, ’’ burden he carried soon told upon him. _[leaped after her into the volcano. His breath came hard and perspiration; Frank dug his heels into the hot crust rolled down his cheeks. ‘and pulled frantically hand over hand at ‘Father!’ eried Maud, observing that ‘the straining cord. his footsteps lagged a bit, ‘‘have merey!; Quickly the imperiled girl came to Pity me!” ‘the surface and was draggved to Frank’s ‘‘The gods demand it!’ he snarled, feet, where with bare hands he slapped shifting his burden and starting on again. ! out the flames that had beyun to devour A faint cry reached their ears. Maud her garments. looked back, and so did her father. | As he did so, from below the surface They saw Frank coming after them. ‘came the blood-curdling shrieks of the He had shouted in the hope of causing high priest as the flames destroyed him. the maniac to halt. | Maud did not hear her father’s ceath It was a mistaken move. rerv. She had fainted. The high priest plunged on up the| In a moment Frank picked her up and crater with renewed energy. ‘bore her to the outer edge of the crater, ““Ah! he is so far behind,’? moaned| where he met Mr. Gillette toiling up. Maud. ‘‘He will never overtake us!’? |‘They speedily discovered that the girl Maud was right Frank did not over-| was not dead, and after a time succeeded take them, but he sped on, gaining at/in reviving her. every step. Her face and hands were slightly - The maniac had a long start and the/scorched, but beyond that she sustained dreadful goal was near at hand. 10 injury save the nervous shock, from He disappeared with his burden pres- which she was a long time in recovering. ently around a pile of rocks at the very | Frank and Mr. Gillette carried her to summit. , | the shore, and when they reached the A moment later Frank passed the spot. yacht, which they did without encounter- Fie found himself then in the very |178 the disheartened savages, Maud was crater of the volcano. sufficiently herself to tell what had hap- The floor of lava extended in a solid, | pened. irregular floor to the centre of the vast There was much to be said, but it need hollow, where there was an abrupt sink, not be repeated here. Mr. Gillette's out of which smoke and flames were Search was over, and to Frank Merriwell. belching fiercely. he admitted that he owed escape from an The high priest w ine t pawful tragedy. that sink. ee arene “Rrank Merriwell Home Again; of, Frank kept on desperately, though he| the aye ee ci orsco it tre saw that he could not reach the edge of | Pee he hegihahiors mae! F the fire before the maniac. published in the next number (39) 0 The latter halted on the very brink, | the Tip Top Lrprary. where the red flames almost licked his face, poised the shrieking girl above his [THE END.] COMINCLOOC (CO